Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G)

1. Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) Federal Partnerships During Emergencies

2. TAC-G Primary Partners • Indian Affairs – OHSES (BIA & BIE) • Indian Health Service (IHS) • FEMA (National Tribal Liaison)

3. Indian Affairs Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Services

4. History of OHSES • 2001 Emergency Coordinator Position established in ASIA • 2002 Homeland Security Position established in BIA (Position was under BIA-OJS) • 2003 Homeland Security Position realigned in ASIA • 2006 Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services established

5. Office Activities • Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) • National Response Framework (NRF) Tribal Annex & ESF #15 • Pandemic Flu Preparedness • National Preparedness System (NPS)Integrated Planning System (IPS) & Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) Implementation • Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Coordination • Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) & Wireless Priority System (WPS)

6. Office Activities (cont) • National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) • Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) • Tribal Information Sharing Environment (ISE) • Coordination of National Incident Management System (NIMS) & ICS Requirements • Coordination and support of Ancillary Essential Support Functions (ESF)

7. Indian Affairs EM Structure • AS-IA has two personnel for EM (All Fed mandates plus everything else) • BIA 12 Regional Emergency Management Coordinators (Collateral duty assignment) • BIE has three School Safety Specialists assigned to the Associate Deputy Directors *(Two hired one position to be filled)*

8. Indian Health Service • 12 Area Emergency Management Points of Contact (EMPOCs) • Positions are collateral duty assignment

9. FEMA Tribal Liaisons • One for most FEMA Regions and a National Tribal Liaison • Only National and Region IX are full time Tribal Liaisons positions

10. Challenges for Tribal Governments • 90% of emergencies/disasters that affect Tribal Governments will not receive a Presidential Emergency and/or Disaster Declaration • Many Federal Departments and Agencies do not have clear policies regarding emergency assistance to Tribal Governments with a PED/PDD • Federal D&As don’t always have the necessary reimbursable agreements in place pre-disaster

11. Overcoming the Challenges • Establishing good working relationships prior to a disaster can make all the difference in how much assistance can be offered and available from Federal partners when your need is greatest. • MOUs/MOAs are the best way to help insure the requested assistance/resources are available during an emergency

12. Why the TAC-G • Poor Communication during response to Katrina and Rita • Began with a meeting to get IA, IHS and FEMA communicating and coordinating response efforts (BP) • First significant success during Ike and Gustav

13. Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) • The TAC-G defines how Indian Affairs (IA), the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intend to operate within during a disaster or emergency. • Provides strategic guidance and operational context to work within an interagency framework that supports the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and respects the application of the National Response Framework (NRF). • It also reinforces support of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #15 and the NRF Tribal Annex.

14. Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) con’t • The TAC-G ensures coordination with tribal governments on all aspects of incident management operations and provides a mechanism to work closely with DHS to ensure tribal relations actions are carried out in accordance with established Federal Government policies and procedures. • Current Partners include: Indian Affairs, IHS, FEMA, DOI, ACF, HUD, DHS , USDA

15. New Partners • DHS Office of Emergency Communication • USCG • FEMA Mitigation Directorate • National Archives and Records Administration

16. TAC-G Charter • Establishes a representative from all Executive Branch Departments and Agencies (Be careful what you wish for) • Creates a Tribal Advisory Group

17. 2010 Incidents • Navajo Nation Snow Emergency • Cheyenne River severe weather • Los Coyotes Radio Issues • Rocky Boy’s flooding • Deepwater Horizon Incident

18. Regional Emergency Management Workshops • BIA and IHS are partnering to present emergency management workshops beginning in 2011 to engage regional Federal D&A representatives • The workshops will have “tracks” for BIA and IHS personnel as well as tribal emergency management personnel • A combined open forum will be conducted at the end of the workshop

19. Questions? Patrick Vacha Indian Affairs Emergency Management Coordinator 202-208-4438 Office 202-577-5918 Mobile patrick.vacha@bia.gov